Mechanism for electric propulsion of road-vehicles.



'Patonted' luly'l', 1902.

C u. s BERGIN. k MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC PROPULSION 0F ROAD VEHICLES.

(A lication flied Sept. 28, 190i.

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(I0 llodel.)

m: Norms PETERS co, PNDTD-LITHO, WASHINGTO Patented Iuly I, 1902 nys. BERGIN. MECHANISM FOR ELEIJTRII'Iv PROPULSION 0F ROAD VEHICLES.

(Application filed Sept. 28, 1901..)

} 2 Sheets-Sheet 2;

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UNi'rnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

m DANIEL s. BERGIN, or oHrcAco, ILLINOIS.

MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC PROPULSION OF R O AD -VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 703,374,"dated July 1, 1902.

Application filed September 28, 1901. Serial No. 76,869. No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL S. BERG'IN, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Electric Propulsion of Road-Vehicles,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar numerals of reference in the different figures indicate like parts.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby the electric current as conveyed over the usual trolley-wires may be utilized to propel the ordinary road-vehicle in such a way as to enable the latterwithin certain limits to vary its course and turn laterally in either direction away from the line of the conductor, thereby enabling vehicles to pass each other upon a given line or to meet other contingencies incident to such vehicles.

To these ends my invention consists in the combination of elements hereinafter more particularly described, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of aroad-vehicle embodying the'features of my invention, the same being shown with my improved form of trolley as it would appear in use. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic viewin perspective showing circuits between the trolley and motor. Fig. 3 is an enlarged central vertical sectionai View of myimproved trolley. Fig. 4 is a side view thereof. Fig. 5 is a detail view, partly in section, of a portion of the contact mechanism employed in connection with said trolley. showing a portion of the electrical conductors that run to the trolley-wheel and the counterpart contacts adapted to coact with those shown in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional View of the laterally-adj ustable arm forming a part-of the trolley-pole.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents an ordinary road-wagon or other similar vehicle having a box 2 and an electric motor 3 of any well-known construction, the armature-shaft of which is provided with a pinion 4, adapted to engage an annular gear 5 upon one of the driving-wheels 6 in the usual way.

Fig. 6 is. a similar View the ball17.

A hollow metallic fitting 7 ispivotally supported upon a horizontal axis by means of a bolt 8, extended loosely through a bore in said fitting and also through the side-board 2 of the vehicle-box. Tapped into said fitting at right angles to its axis is a metal tube 9, having a sleeve 10 secured to its upper end, said sleeve having an annular flange,as shown at 11, so as to provide a suitable space at the top, within whichis fitted a suitable cup for the'reception of ball-bearings 12, Fig. 3, upon which rests a flange 13 upon the lower end of a like tube 14, held in place by means of an annular nut 15, screwedinto the flange 11. A handle 16 is rigidly attached to the upper tube 14, by meansof which the latter may be rotated upon the ball-bearin gs 12 for the purpose hereinafter specified.

Tapped upon the upperend of the tube 14 is a ball 17, upon which is fitted a spherical casing 18, made in twoparts bolted together, as shown at 19, Fig. 4, said casing being cut away, as shown at 20, to permit it tohave a rotation of about ninety degrees upon an axis at right angles to that of the pole 14, it being prevented from rotation around the latter axis by means of a pin 21, Fig, 3, which is passed through a bore in said casing into the ball 17. A crank-arm 22 is-rig'idly attached to the casing 18, its axis corresponding to that of the pin 21. A tubular. arm 23, bent at right angles at one end, has. said bent portion screwed intothe casing 17,. and illlSzEtdjUSl3- ments are such that whenthelever-arm 22 is parallel to the pole 14 the arm 23 willstand at right angles thereto, as shown in Fig. 4; but when the arm 22 is actuated, as hereinafter described, the arm 23 may be caused to fold :againstthe pole 14,-being permittedjto'do so by the hinge-like action of the casing 18 upon Attached to the arm 23 by means of a screw-plug 24 of insulating material, Figs. 1, 4, and 7, is a metalliceX-tension 25, preferably tubular in form, into. which is inserted a metal plug 26, Fig. 7; which plug is in contact with the extension 25 and',jextending through the insulating-plug24; is connected with an insulated conductor 27, which is carried through the tubes 23, 14, and 9, respectively, to a contact-plate 28, Figs. 3 and 6, upon the inner face of the part 7. Said outer face of the side-board 2 of the vehicleboX, which latter plate is also insulated. The plate 29 is electrically connected, as shown, with a binding-post 30, which in turn is connected, by means of an insulated wire 31, Fig. 2, with the controller 32. The section 23 of the composite arm is connected, by means of an insulated conductor 33,with a similar contact-plate 34 upon the inner face of the part 7, diametrically opposite to the plate 28. The plate 34 is adapted to contact with a plate 33 upon the side-board 2 when the contacts 28 and 29 are together. The plate 35 is connected with a binding-post 36, as shown, which is in turn electrically connected with the motor by means of a wire 37, Fig. 2.

The lever-arm 22 is connected, by means of a swiveled connection, as shown at 38, Figs. 1, 3, and 4, with a rod 39, which'is in turn connected, by means of a like swiveled joint 40, to a stud 41, projecting outwardly from the vehicle-box. The rod 39 is arranged parallel to the pole 14 when the latter is in a horizontal position, and the result is that when the pole is raised to a vertical position the lever-arm 22 is drawn down by the rod, thereby throwing the composite arm up at right angles to the pole 14. In order to turn said right arm at right angles to the charged conductors, the handle 16 is grasped by the operator, who rotates the part 14 upon the ballbearings 12. An arm 42, Figs. 3 and 4, is formed upon the part 14, through a bore in which arm the rod 39 is loosely passed. This causes the rod to move with the part 14 during the partial rotation of the latter, the swiveled connections and the yielding of the rod being sufiicient to permit the required movement. The operation of said trolley-pole is as follows: Assuming it to be raised to a vertical position, which causes the composite or contact arm to stand in a horizontal position at right angles thereto, when the handle 16 is grasped and the arm swung beneath and at right angles to the overhead line-wires 43 44 the part 23 is brought into contact with one and the part 25 with the other line-wire. Assuming the sections 25 23 to be in contact with the line-wires 43 44, the course of the current would be as follows: Following the line 43, as indicated by the arrow, it passes through the part 25 and wire 27 to the contact-plate 28, thence through the plate 29, then in contact to the wire 31, through the controller 32, wire 45, and motor 3, thence back over the wire 37 to the contact-plate 35, thence through the plate 34, wire 33, and armpleting the circuit.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination with a vehicle of the class described of positive and negative line conductors, a motor and a jointed trolleypole having a contact-section arranged to extend horizontally and laterally from the main or supporting pole, beneath said conductors, said horizontal section consisting of two contact portions each adapted to be brought into sliding contact with one of said conductors, said portions being insulated from each other, and means for electrically connecting one of said portions with one terminal and the other with the other terminal of said motor, whereby said contact portions may be removed from said conductors at will and again brought into contact therewith While permitting a considerable lateral variation in the relative position of the vehicle with respect to that of said line conductors.

2. The combination with a vehicle of the class described of positive and negative line conductors, a motor and a folding or jointed trolley-pole having insulated contact-sections, one being electrically connected with one and the other with the other terminal of said motor, and means for bringing said sections into sliding contact with said line conductors respectively.

3. The combination with a vehicle of the class described, of a motor, a double-jointed tubular trolley-pole the portion constituting the outer joint being divided into two contactsections insulated from but rigid with each other, means for electrically connecting said sections with the respective terminals of said motor, and means controllable from the seat of the operator for manipulating said pole, whereby said contact-sections may respectively be brought into sliding contact with outward and return electrical conductors.

4. The combination with a vehicle of the class described, of a motor, a trolley-pole pivotally mounted at its lower end upon a horizontal axis, a two-part section jointed. to the upper or free end of the main pole, the two parts of said section being rigid with but insulated from each other, means for electrically connecting said parts respectively with the terminals of said motor, an arm rigidly connected with said two-part section at its pivotal point, and a pivoted rod arranged parallel with said main pole and connecting the free end of said arm with a stationary point upon said vehicle.

5. The combination with a vehicle of the class described, of a motor, a trolley-pole pivotally mounted at its lower end upon a horizontal axis, a two-part section jointed to the upper or free end of the main pole, the two parts of said section being rigid with but in sulated from each other, means for electric ally connecting said parts respectively with the terminals of said motor, an arm rigidly connected with said two-part section at its! In testimony whereof I have signed this pivotal point, a pivoted rod arranged parallel specification, in the presence of two subscribwith said main pole and connecting the free in g witnesses, this 27th day of August, 1901. 10

end of said arm with astationary point upon DANIEL S. BERGIN; 5 said vehicle, and means for moving said two- Witnesses:

part section laterally when the same is ele- D. H. FLETCHER,

vated. CHARLES L. HINE. 

